Unraveling the impact of greenhouse pepper resistance on biological performance of the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Acari: Tarsonemidae)

The broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is a highly significant pest in tropical and subtropical regions, with a wide host range that encompasses over 60 plant families. In particular, it can be a major and economically damaging pest on pepper plants, causing significant losses to the crop. The life table parameters of P. latus were determined under laboratory conditions to evaluate the susceptible and resistant cultivars of greenhouse pepper among 14 pepper cultivars, including Selva, Clavesol, Kamus, Chidem, Sympathy, Sven, Kamro, Lumos, Caoba, Bellisa, Sunset, Atlantic D90, Atlantic G50, and Atlantic P5001. The total pre-adult period was significantly different on the pepper cultivars tested, in which the shortest and longest duration was recorded on Atlantic P5001 (5.02 days) and Atlantic G50 (5.94 days), respectively. Adult longevity and total life span had significant differences among pepper cultivars, in which the longest durations were observed on Kamus (21.02 and 26.36 days, respectively). The population growth parameters, including the gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R₀), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and mean generation time (T), as well as the fecundity of the broad mite exhibited significant differences among the cultivars tested. Specifically, the maximum and minimum values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r) were observed in Lomus (0.319 day⁻¹) and Sunset (0.242 day⁻¹), respectively. The gross reproductive rate (28.33 eggs/individual) and net reproductive rate (27.18 eggs/individual) in the Kamus cultivar were significantly higher than those in the other cultivars. Our results indicated that among the pepper cultivars, Sunset, Sympathy, Chidem, and Clavesol were more resistant to P. latus compared with the others.